AS A busy school year comes to a close, Tranmere Rovers have been working from one side of the Wirral to the other in the club's school coaching programme.

AS A busy school year comes to a close, Tranmere Rovers have been working from one side of the Wirral to the other in the club's school coaching programme.

The journey finished at Brentwood Nursery School in Wallasey, where the community coaches lined up with some enthusiastic three and four-year-olds.

There were some lively characters in the group, who kept all the coaches on their toes for the session.

The children took part in a warm-up, learned some basic skills and then finished with a game, where they all ended up kicking the same way!

Coach Steve Williams said: "There were a few children who were very good at running with the ball, so once they started they didn't stop - even when it went out of play."

The children also took home a certificate to mark their hard work on the day.

On a more sombre note, Tran-mere Rovers have been saddened by the news of the tragic death of Sam Bencheikh, from Greasby, who had worked in the club's Football in the Community department for more than two years.

Sam, just 18, was killed in a car accident in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Everyone at the club was saddened by the news and Football in the Community Officer Steve Williams was first to pay tribute to the youngster

He said: "Sam Bencheikh made a great and lasting impression on everyone that knew him and he will be sorely missed at Tranmere Rovers Football Club.

"Sam had a fantastic personality that endeared him to everyone he met and this made him the perfect candidate to promote the club to the community.

"Having attended soccer schools on a regular basis, from the age of eight, Sam made the progression from pupil to teacher showing great enthusiasm by returning to the club to gain experience in the coaching field, firstly as a volunteer and then a fully fledged member of the community team.

"Sam had a great rapport with children of all ages and took great pleasure in organising regular coaching sessions for children and adults with disabilities."

He added: "He was recently accepted onto a Sports Science course at John Moores University and was due to start in September. Sam had his whole life ahead of him and this is a tragic loss."